Civic Societies Forum 2008-03-31T13:17:37Z Copyright (c) 2008 ExpressionEngine tag:civicsocieties.org.uk,2008:05:22 Unlocking the talents of communities tag:civicsocieties.org.uk,2008:forums/viewthread/.12 2008-03-28T09:11:44Z 2008-03-31T13:17:37Z ActiveCitizen “There is a drop in the percentage of people who think they can influence local decisions.”

This statement, which Civic Societies will certainly understand, comes from the Government’s new consultation paper, “Unlocking the Talent of Our Communities”, which asks a range of questions aimed at finding out what people want to see in terms of having a greater say in improvements to public services - which of course include planning services - local accountability and opportunities for enterprise.

Government will use the results of this consultation to inform an Empowerment White Paper, to be published in the Summer, so our immediate aim is to send a response to the consultation which will set out for Government the views of our membership of 250,000 people in over 700 civic societies.

Please click here to open the questionnaire and once complete please press the “submit” button. The deadline, unfortunately, is short - 7th April - but it is very important for us all that the Civic Trust engages with Government in this initiative. May I therefore ask you to fill in and return the questionnaire so that we can send Government a strong and constructive document representing the concerns, experience, aspirations and, of course, the great value of the civic society movement.

Please feel free to forward this to your individual members for them to respond directly to us if they so wish

Yours sincerely

Peter Bembridge

Managing Director
The Civic Trust

]]> Your comments on the draft Heritage Protection Bill? tag:civicsocieties.org.uk,2008:forums/viewthread/.33 2008-04-03T10:03:36Z 2008-06-03T13:13:47Z Caroline Williams The Draft Heritage Protection Bill has been published today on the DCMS website and the Civic Trust is keen to represent members’ views on the subject. Please view the Bill on the link below, and either respond via this forum, or for more detailed responses, please email Michael Hammerson (mhammerson at civictrust dot org dot uk) by mid June 2008.

The Draft Heritage Protection Bill can be viewed by following the link below:
http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Publications/archive_2008/pub_drafthpb.htm

Minister Andy Burnham says:
“Heritage protection is as important as anything else we do in this Department. But nobody can sit in an office in London and decide what is heritage or not. Local communities have strong feelings about their own heritage and it is important that those voices are heard. “By unifying the protection regimes, encouraging wider participation, and making the system more transparent we aim to make heritage protection easier to understand and manage, and help it become an integral part of public life.

“The draft Bill we are publishing today follows long and extensive consultation. It reflects Government policy as expressed in last year’s White Paper, and the consensus reached on that. But it is not the last word, because consultation goes on. That’s why we’re publishing it in draft. We welcome the widest possible debate and, if there are proposals for further changes, we will consider them carefully in the light of all the views expressed. I am grateful for the time and trouble that so many organisations and individuals have taken getting us to this point.”

We look forward to hearing from you.

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